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Just beginning to explore lap band surgery. I enjoy a couple of glasses of wine in the evening. What type of restrictions on wine and alcohol are placed on you when you are banded? Thanks!

I think it is a very real danger (just read some of the threads on here about alcohol). There is a reason that OA is patterned after AA. For many of us, we have used food as our substance or drug of choice along with or instead of other substances and activities. If we don't learn to substitute healthy substances and behaviors we can definitely be in danger of transferring addictions.

I've read that it happens with some people, drugs, alcohol, sex, cigarettes. I think it is called "addiction transfer", since you can't over eat any more you switch to something else.

I have a glass of wine about every 2-3 weeks. I have had a few beers as well, but the bottled or can beers have way too much carbonation for my tummy, so the draft beer is a little easier to drink as it tends to have a little less carbonation. Just keep in mind that many sleevers tend to become a little addicted to alcohol after surgery, and there's also the whole "empty calories" thing.

I was told no carbonated drinks what so ever but I can drink alcohol in moderation. So I'm anticipating that I'll drink wine and other mixed beverages that are carbonation free. I love my wine!

Beni. Trust me. We have been seeking medical advice for years now. (Medical aid is free of charge in Denmark J ) So we have been in and out of hospitals and as so has been aware of B12 defiance all the way through. In fact, in Denmark all gb-patients gets injected with vitamin D and B12 even before surgery and ever since, she has received B12 on a third month basis. Twice a year her blood has also been monitored for iron, zink, magnesium, vitamin B D E, calcium levels and some more. There has been some minor B12 defiance, but never anything alarming. Since a pregnancy in 2011, she occasionally has to get iron and vitamin D intravenously though. Still my girlfriends’ neurologic condition seems like an enigma to the doctors. I have read a LOT of Google stuff about it all. Lately I found a diagnosis – Wernickes encephalopathy – that fits quite well on (some of ) her symptoms, but what also occurs to me is that her condition might not be that rare at all..? Meaning: My girlfriend is not aware of her condition. She cannot remember that she was ever any different from today and does not remember her “absence attacks” either. She recognizes her spelling and memory issues but does not notice that her very personality has changed. She used to be a very “tidy” person –hence her house was always clean and things were always in place, she always kept her appointments and never spend more that budget. These days she is all but different, her house and her financial situation being a mess. (Even her mother says, that she doesn’t recognize her own daughter anymore) We are members of a local gby forum and what strikes me is that a few of our gby acquaintances are dealing with (some of) the same issues. Some has lost their capability of spelling or their handwriting has gone horrible, some tend to forget words, names or appointments, some can’t find their ways, some occasionally has a “numb” sensation or deals with cold/hot/wet/dry issues. Only they are not striken as bad as my girlfriend – or at least not yet, and this is my reason for writing to Bariatric Pal. See: In Denmark we didn’t perform gastric bypasses before 2006, so if neurologic complications doesn’t show before after say 6 years or more, we won’t have that many experiences yet. And I am well aware that this might be one out of a thousand that has to deal with these issues. In Denmark that would be only a few dozens of individuals, so there wouldn’t be any statistic relevance to state a case upon. But to save my own family I really need to know, if anybody out there has any experiences on this matter and especially if anybody knows a cure… - MsUjima: There is quite a few research articles about vitamin B and E defiance. Most related to alcohol abuse though, but the symptoms are alike those of my girlfriends (who hasn’t tasted alcohol for 20 years)

I felt just like this and had similar stats (was 247 when I started). I didn’t even really commit fully to the pre op/6 month diet. But I went back every month even if I hadn’t lost, mostly because I didn’t want to start over. Once my surgery approval came in, a month prior, it got a lot more real and I got serious. I started the plan with some rigor, cut out all sugar and alcohol, etc., and lost around 15 lbs pre-surgery. I’ve been a slowish-loser post-op but have been compliant, careful, diligent and have not gone back to my bad habits, and exercise 5x week and enjoy it. Am down almost 80 lbs, at around a .5 lb/week pace now. The surgery won’t “work” on its own but it’s a huge opportunity to change your life, and the weight loss is an awesome motivator to keep going. Good luck to you!!

You can get bitters or Campari from a liquor store. Bitters are a bright red liquid that lives up to its name, in sort of a good way. (This cure is not for anyone with alcohol problems.) Good luck and let us know what the doc says. PS: Try turning off the "caps lock" key.

So today I’m 4 weeks post op RNY by the date. I passed out today (Saturday) at an outside, pretty physical, 3 mile walk/dancing event. I’ve frequented this event plenty of times in the past before surgery & while drinking liquor in 82+ degree weather (1-2 years BEFORE surgery) This is the first time in life I’ve ever passed out. It was kind of scary when my friend told me I was out for about 3 minutes…. The morning of I had 2 protein shakes and hit 80g before heading out. I had plenty LiquidIV supplements to make sure I stayed hydrated but it seems like that contributed to my downfall according to the EMT. I have not and did not consume alcohol while only 4 weeks post op. But mainly I had no solid food since Friday thinking that i could hit the protein & just stay hydrated but hell no… With the physical activity & no carbs to replenish the energy my body was way deprived so…eat your carbs

I was not consuming alcohol at this event nor have i had alcohol since before my 2 week pre op diet I mentioned I've consumed alcohol at this event in the past before i thought about having surgery just to give some context on how much things have changed for me now that I’ve had RNY I’ll make it a little more clear in my OP 😊

I'd agree with Arabesque that it's probably too much activity too soon after surgery. Your body's still healing, and you're not taking in enough calories to support strenuous activity yet. And low blood pressure/low blood sugar are issues with some of us the first few weeks. It was probably a combination of things. about alcohol (and I know you said you weren't drinking. but just because the other commenters addressed it...), we were told to wait a year. I waited more like three years. The first time I drank it slowly and in a "safe" place since I didn't know what kind of effect it would have on me. I remember getting really buzzed really quickly on just one glass of wine - although the feeling left more quickly than it would have pre-surgery. I do drink now (eight years out), but it mostly consists of a glass or two of wine (and usually only when I'm out with friends) about once a month. But then alcoholism runs on one side of my family (two uncles), and with my addictive personality and my re-arranged digestive system, plus the fact transfer addiction isn't uncommon among bariatric patients, I never wanted to risk it.

It took me about 9 months into the band to realize that I used food to cope. While I was losing I was on a natural high and when I hit goal all of a sudden I actually got depressed because I no longer had the high of losing. Once I had lost the weight and I no longer ate to cope I was in big trouble. I went to a therapist and he said I had to make a choice, either find a new way to cope or cut out some stress. That's why many people become alcoholics after WLS. They can no longer eat to cope and so they turn to another vice to take its place. Learning that you stress eat is helpful in the process though and is a great step in making changes in your life whether it be finding better ways to cope with stress or ultimately making the decision to eliminate some of the stress in your life. I'm trying a mixture of both right now but I'm not ready to cut out some of the stress that I probably should. At least knowing what I'm dealing with and making the decision to put up with it is my choice and it sometimes makes it easier.

I agree with all the others that are telling you to stop drinking alcohol. Calories aside, alcohol is a system depressent (just like a pharmaceutical depressant)- and is probably the cause of your depression, or at least, makes it much worse. Also, your system is reacting to alcohol differently than prior to your sleeve surgery. For me - I tried alcohol twice since my surgery - as an experiment to see what happens. I got a buzz on <1/2 c of beer, and a buzz on 2 tablespoons of fine tequila (sipped, not done as a shot). Beleve me, prior to my surgery, I could at least have a couple of drinks (beer or spirits) before I got to the same point of feeling a buzz. So whatever alcohol did for/to you before the sleeve - it is doing it MAGNIFIED after the sleeve. If you are having trouble staying away from the alcohol - get it out of the house until you get things back under control. Good luck!

First off congratulations on your tremendous loss! It is wonderful. I think it is difficult when you establish a relationship that is based off of a situation and then you have to change. I am not saying that you two necessarily have always had a "fat" relationship, but when we get comfortable in a situation, and then there is a change it is really difficult to deal with. I pulled away from my best friend after she got married, for a long time I tried to remain as close as before but the reality was, as much as we needed each other, they were seeking couples to do things with and I never fit that mold. I grew tired of being the fifth wheel (because I always was invited, but I was always alone) We are still friends, but not as close as we were. My brother and sister in law met in a bad situation, they both dealt with substance abuse issues and the first year of their relationship was completely surrounded by drugs, alcohol and partying. When the haze lifted and they decided to get clean and do better they had to establish a new relationship, nothing was the same, their friends were different, their fun time was different, but they found new friends and new fun times and turned it around into a lot of outdoor activities and have managed to turn it into a 3 year court ship and 4 year marriage. It doesn't have to be over, it may take a big fight from you. Don't let her get you down, don't let her comments get you down either. My best friend has always been quite a bit thinner than me. I have never come close to her size, and I thought the other day how weird the day will be that I can share her clothes, or even potentially be smaller. I think it is important to let them know we are the same, and how important they are in our lives.

Congratulations on taking steps to get healthier! I think your plan to add more Protein is a good one especially as the meal replacement. Protein drinks are tricky because everyone has their own taste and that can change drastically after this surgery so I would not invest a fortune in powders and such. Also if you are a busy person and do not want to fool around with blender cups or actual blenders I would recommend giving Premier Protein ready made shakes a try. They are excellent for post surgery as well. There is no grit, no nasty taste, in fact they are actually very good. They have 30 grams of protein in 1 shake, 1 gram of sugar and are 160 calories. I turned to them post surgery when I could not tolerate most of the whey protein powders. My nut suggested them and I am thrilled she did. You can get them in smaller packs at Walmart and Walgreens or you can buy them at a higher discounted rate and larger quantities at Sam's and costco. Some of the others that are more tolerable is the syntax nectars. These are a powder and you need to use a blender cup to ensure you don't end up with that grit. Leverage things like yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts and seeds to help boost your protein as well. Focus your meals on lower carb, high protein. Leverage good carbs like fruit and vegetables. Stay away from bread, Pasta, rice, white potatoes. Leverage Beans, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, carrots, cauliflower.....pretty much any vegetables you love. Salads with some protein make an excellent well balanced meal, just watch your dressing to make sure it is not loaded with too much sugar. The goal is to remove as much sugar and bad carbs from your diet. Remove all processed foods from your house. They are not something you will be able to eat after surgery. Honestly they are so very bad for us. If you drink caffeine or alcohol you might want to stop that now because you will be required to at pre op diet and beyond. My nut had me practicing mindful eating, getting my Water intake up to 64oz. Per day, eating slowly, not drinking anything when you eat and removing all distractions. I hope some of this is helpful to you! Please keep us posted on your progress!

Are you out there? Recovery Alcoholic is so very optional (added this mainly because i found I am actually quite compulsive with food) but really looking to make a friend here who can meet up and hang on occasion:) You don't even have to have a low bmi'er at all...just don't want to be judged for doing it at what some deem a lower weight. I live in Hollywood area:D

My doctor really didn't give me any sort of limitations. I just don't drink anything carbonated, so I stick with wine and cocktails. But, be careful. It only will take a little bit to feel the alcohol!

If you follow your NUT/surgeon, which is probably the best right now, please make sure you tell them that you work out that much and make sure they know you are not just talking. Everyone says they "work out". You can work out and barely burn 150 calories walking at 2.5mph for 30 minutes. You can also work out lifting weights for an hour and then doing 30 minutes of intense cardio. Make sure your doctor knows what you do and adjusts your calories/meal plan accordingly. You only consume around 400 calories, and your trainer is absolutely right to say that you cannot workout on this low calorie count. His recommendation is clearly not for a fresh sleeve, but you have to find a middle ground between the person who knows your medical history and the person who knows your activities. Cross check his recommendations with your NUT and you should be good. If you cannot eat that much, tell your trainer and ask for some foods with a higher calorie density - a slice of whole grain bread with Peanut Butter and some low sugar jelly can give you a good energy boost with 200 calories and should be easy to eat. Don't try not to eat more - it may look counter productive, but it isn't. Even if you drive your car very fuel efficient - you MUST have fuel or you don't go anywhere or strand half way down. Just when working out, you don't strand but keep going and damage your engine. As for Snacks, I too eat snacks. I was told 4 meals - ie. two meals, one snack, but I usually have two smallish snacks and at times, it looks more like I am having 5 meals with a little less than 200 calories for a total of 900 calories. In the end, the NUT gives you recommendations - you have to find what works for you. Over the last 3 months since surgery, I have found that it doesn't matter too much when I eat, what I eat or how often I eat, what matters is my total calories and my workout. If I stall, I stall no matter what. If I lose again, it's just because my body is ready and not because I worked out more/less, ate more/less carbs/fat or so. I just came off a 23 day stall, and that after I ate everything "wrong" (like sushi, alcohol, snacks)

Hi Everyone! I'm scheduled to be banded May 16th and I'm going to be a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding on May 29th. Well, I just went to my cousin's wedding this past weekend, while on the pre-op diet, and I didn't have anything to drink. Everyone was up dancing and having a good time and drinking and I was wishing I could join the party. I kept thinking the whole time-- I am SO drinking at my brother's wedding. I know I'll only be 13 days post-op, but do you think it will be unsafe to have one or two glasses of wine or non-fizzy mixed drinks? I know I should really ask my doc, but I'm afraid he'll say no, LOL. Anyway, I would love to hear from people about how long you waited or what your surgeons said. It's not that I NEED alcohol to have a good time or anything, but I think I would enjoy myself a little more if I could have one or two. Thanks! Mary

One more thing...if you are feeling nauseous..get a rubbing alcohol pad (the little packets nurses always have to clean your skin before a shot!) and put it on the bridge of your nose..the nurses did it for me and it took the nauseous feeling right away!!!

Do those shakes contain sugar alcohols? They will cause the poos. I love love love Unjury protein powder. I look forward to my shakes!

I find when I drink alcohol the naughty me comes back! I want Amigos or Mc Donalds. So then I go get it & I can't even eat it!

Thanks. I hesitated to ask the alcohol question as it seems to be a big no-no post surgery, and while Im not a boozer, I do enjoy my social drinking and would hate to give it up forever.

Day 8 here of 14 days. Day 3 & 4 were the hardest. Suggestions for you are drink a lot of Water and keep busy. What also helps me is brushing my teeth after the shake. Use a non-drying non-alcohol based mouthwash like Biotene for Dry Mouth. Once you hit Ketosis your mouth gets a bit dry and the breath is pretty nasty. For me the Protein shakes are sticky in my mouth after a while. I exercise and I keep busy. I cleaned out closets, I've cleaned my files on my computer, I have gone through old clothes, looking for clothes that will fit eventually, I got rid of clothes that are already too big. Don't put yourself in situations where you will lose control. Don't go out with friends to eat, keep busy, get your stuff in order, relax and exercise. Go for a walk, keep your mind busy. Keep water at your bedside at night. Realize one thing, if you are doing 3 shakes and getting 80 grams of protein, you are NOT going to starve to death. You are getting plenty of nutrition, plenty of people live on these many calories or less a day. It will suck, yeah, but it will be worth it. Many have gone through it in the past and made it and many will be in the future, be determined you will get through it and you will. Good luck!!!!

Thank you for your thoughts. I am purely a social drinker but I'm in a band and most of our gigs are in pubs and clubs, so it somewhat goes with the territory. I'm not saying I need to drink but I can't remember gigging and not drinking with it, so that will definitely be an adjustment for me but I want to be thin a lot more than I want to drink alcohol. I'm hoping that I will be able to drink again in the future in moderation though.. lifestyle changes are good but I'm hoping not to become a nun here.